File cabinet



fiept. 30, 1930. w DAY 1,777,165

FILE CABINET Filed Oct. 19, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 30, 1930. w H, AY 1,777,165

' FILE CABINET Filed Oct. 19, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I I I I I l I I I I I I gnvanfoz Sgpt. 30, 1930.

w. H. DAY

FILE QABINET Filed Oct. 19, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I'll. .Illlr ill Ililliillllliltlflllill M. l v

attotneq Sept 30,1930,

Filed Oct 19, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 gnoan roz Sept. 30, 1930. w DAY I 1,777,165

FILE CABINET Filed Oct. 19, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet s F 68 2 w I I l 1 III 7 alike: n at Fate-rated ept. 3 3, 133% UhliTEfi STATES PATENT erricn WILLIAM H. DAY, OF EAST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO REMINGTON BAND ENG, GE HEY/V YORK, Y., A CQRPORATION OF DELA'W'AEE FILE CABIHET Application filed October 19, 1923.

This invention relates to index or card record equipment wherein a plurality of record carrying members, such as shallow drawers or trays, are stored away in a device in the form of a cabinet and conveniently arranged for withdrawal therefrom in order to readily refer to the cards or sheet-s filed therein, and more particularly relates to such equipment using the type of index cards that lie substantially flatwise in the drawers in overlapped relation whereby a margin of each is exposed to view.

The improved index carrying device or cabinet of my invention is primarily intended for the use of public utility corporations such as telegraph and telephone companies, and in other lines of business, where a large number of index sl eets or cards are employed for directory purposes or the like, and which mustbe readily available for im mediate use. In such instances, it is desirable that the equipment be easily enlarged or added to, to care for the ever increasing volume of business. It is also desirable that a device of this character be of such size and shape that it may be placed in generally unused places, such as underneath table, counter, or like furniture, so as to leave the top surface of such furniture unobstructed, and yet be located thereunder in such a manner that such device may be referred to without in conveniencing the user.

The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide such an article of index equipment. that the desirable features mentioned above will be included in the construction, and which will be of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture and of generally improved character and operation.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a device of this character, embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. is a plan view of the same, certain Serial No. 369,525.

portions being broken away for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 4 is a section on line -i lof Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the device with a drawer partially withdrawn therefrom, certain parts being in section for the sake of clearness;

Fig. '4 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the arrangement of parts when the drawer is to be wholly removed;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged composite end view showing the side construction of the device, portion A of which is a front. *iew on line 8 of Fig. 3, B is a section on line 8" of Fig. 3, and G a section on line 8 of Fig. 3;

F ig. 9 is a sectional view on line 99 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan View of an index slip holder;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a somewhat modilied arrangement of parts in a drawer;

Fig. 12 is a partial plan view of a similar device showing a somewhat modified form for certain parts and the arrangement thereof. in a similar drawer, and,

Fig. 13 is an enlarged section on line 1313 of Fig. 12.

The device illustrated in the drawings has been selected as showing one way in which the novel features and parts may be combined to attain the objects and results contemplated. This device consists of a cabinet or frame having a plurality of shallow drawers, and both the drawers and frame are preferably constructed of sheet metal, so as to combine the advantages of strength. lightness and fire resistance. The cabinet made up of plurality of drawer receiving sections it), some of which, as at 11. are shown provided with three drawer con'ipartments 14. and others. at 12, with two drawer coimoartments ll. An index card arrying member or drawer 15 is slidably mounted in each of the compartments ll, and is provided with an exterior hancle member 16 and an index slip holder 1?. The various sections are seen 'ed together to form a complete device which is in the form of a cabinet, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. This device is shown as an underhanging cabinet, being ezcured to the under con-sis s dcvirc o; iiiaet of. These U shaped arranged on on top of the o channel port ens it opposed relation to along the sides 20 th: u as 7 members for the cam, dine n'iow-i- T he two op l members ments in and out 0'! the cabinet. posed series of superposed channc lb of each drawer-re 'tlr'ln" which wrapped about t s to each individual n10ndaer,p1 Y welding. Bii'ore being so t ct'ii spacing plates 22, 2S, between the strip of materiai nel members and aim secured 1 time of welding. The s" acing pl 25 at the rear of the cabine angles as at and 27, resp the ends of the channel nen'ibers. spacing plate 22 is lilieu lzent a angles, as at 28 and while CILiii-Lfifiii'l enough to close the end of LC. e cl annel member. extends over the end eutliciently to act as a drawer stop at this point. T he other spacing plate 533 is terminated short the ward end, whereby space 29 is l 1 .JeilYfGS'fl the strip 21 and the channel member 18. 11 this space a ren'iovable stop member .10 is located. The member 30 is bent at right an es as at ill, and l pi; dcce; not close the ends of ti. channel menii' er but extends over the same a-zuiiiciehtly to a t as: the opposite side of the cal'iinct. tional angle pieces 3:2 and 33 are provided and secured within each channel member in Strong: enough to \\'itli:-:taiid lion of the drawer wit ut "i convenient lo secure the t c 33 in place at the same time tbs and the plates 1 and channe: members.

To avoid any .longitudiimi :ii:- t 'u'th 7 structure so h, 1' described, liraci 3 1 and 35 are provided. The hraci hers PA have a portion c: at ly at right angles to the body p tion 36 is provided with s b e open through which screws or th 9 may l sertecl to secure the device the mid 'l, the table. The members 5- a e located adj cent the inner edge of the trip 21 and extend d own w;

irdly thereon a suitable distance, be ircd the v to ly suit: ble securing sizch as screws; 37. One edge 38 oi the 34 is crimped over the inner edge drip to lJiaCG the strip 21 at th and prevent lateral displacement of M'ucture so far described relative to the he bracing members 35, with the exon that portion 36 is omitted, are of ame form members 31, but have the ional features of being the connecting or coupling means between adjoining drawer l' cciyin sections. The couplingmembers 35 end trom one section to another and overlap each sect'on sutiiciently to allow the opposing: ends of each member to abut each othmeans, I mscd through t ends oi the coupling members and into each section. The abutt ends at the? members together w h d over port-ion 1-0 iirmly brace the comructure against lateral di rtion. use of members 35, any number of IIGCQiY 5 sections may secured toher and a compact and sturdy st:ucturc the form of a cabinet will he obtained, and iiimited ez-tpansion of the directory or 1 tin are supported by and are slidably mounted within cha- .nel members 18, are proportioned in width to pass between the oppoirncr ed" s of the bent over POl'lZi'? 'l 3 oi t e respective spacing plates or stops :2... and 30. Catches ll and are secured to the rear surface of the body of the drawer, preferably by spot welding, and eX- tciid outwardly through and beyond the sides i?) and ilof the drawer and in o the "hannel 'iortions if) of the channel members-z 18. The catches l i tend l eyond ach s de of er and into the channel 19 suliicicntly aiding); members to prevent lateral i the rear portion of the drawer drawer is witln'lrawn from or rethe cabinet. The catches also act in compcl'al'ion with the bent in portions 28 res:icctively, to limit the drawer 15 l movement, as shown in Fig. 6.

portion which nds and 1 rates with 0 upper wall oi the channel member to iip rt the ill'au't u' in a subetai'itially horition' when withdrawn. By moving the securing]: means 416. which hol the re novabl stop mei'nbm' 30 in place. th member may be removed as show i in Fist a l ter which the iglrawcr 15 may be swan :1 t erally as shown in dotted lines in this figure, which removes the catch a l from its gu din 1 l. The drawer may then be hiterally to disenoage the catch fro n the stop 28 and whoiiy removed iron the compertinent 14.

The drawer 15 comprises a body portion 47,

such as screws 39 are consisting of a single piece of sheet material bent upwardly at each side substantially at right angles, as at 48, then inwardly substantially horizontally, as at 49, back upon itself as at 50, and downwardly along the portion 48 as 51, whereby longitudinally extending side flanges are formed. A strip of material 52 is enclosed between the bends L8, 49, 50 and 51 and extends the entire length of the sides to assist the side flanges in stiffening the drawer longitudinally. The drawer body 4:7 is inclined upwardly as at 53 along the rear edge to stiflen the drawer horizontally. A separate piece of material is provided and secured to the front edge of the drawer for stiffening the same. his strip of material is bent in proper shape to form a front wall 5 1- and a base portion 55, having its upper edge bent backwardly as at 57. The ends of the front wall 5% and bent over edge 57 are s cured to the ends of the flanges at the side of the drawer, preferably by brazing or welding at 58 and 59. Mounted upon the exterior of the front wall 54 is the index slip holder 17 and the handle member v16. The handle members 16 are shown arranged in staggered relation for convenience in grasping the same especially when shallow drawers are, provided.

Within the drawer and spaced from each other proportionally to the length of the index cards to be used, are card retainin strips 60 capable of removably and slidably holding index cards of the type shown at 61. The strip 60 preferably extends crosswise of the drawer as shown in Figs. 3 and 12, when the device is to be supported beneath a table, but may extend lengthwise of the drawer as shown in Fig. 11. Card edge retaining flange members 62 are also provided, having opposed flanges 64 under which the side edges of the cards are slipped to prevent them from crawling upwardly and catching on the drawer above.

The card retaining flange member 62 may be in the form shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 9 or in the form shown at 63 in Figs. 12 and 13. \Vhen the device is used as an underhanging cabinet. the latter form is preferable. In the form shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 9, the flange member 62 consists of a piece of material bent over itsself along one edge forming a flange 64-. The remaining portion 65, extends beyond the ends of the flanged portion and under the side flanges of the drawer 15. The member 62 is secured to the drawer body portion 47, preferably by spot welding various points along the length of the portion 65. Portion 6 1 of each flange member is suitably rounded at its ends, as at 66, to facilitate the insertion of cards beneath the flanges.

The members 63 shown in Figs. 12 and 13 consists of a strip of material having a base portion 67 connected by a vertical portion 68 of a flanged portion 69. The edge ofthe flanged portion 69 is bent backwardly upon itself as at 70. The base 67 of these members is secured to the body portion of the drawer in the same manner as the portion of the flanged member 62. The members 63 do not have opposed flanges for the cards, but in this instance, one edge of the card is located beneath the flange portion 69 of one member and abuts the vertical portion 68 of the other. Over all of the cards so mounted is a card protecting sheet of celluloid or like transparent material 71, held in place by having one of its edges inserted beneath the flanged portion 69 and having the other edge inserted between the upper surface of the flanged portion 69 and the bent over edge 70 of an adjacent member 63.

This particular card filing means is more specifically described and claimed in a copending application, Serial No. 749,196 filed November 11, 1924-, which in some aspects is a continuation in part of this application.

The index slip holder 17 is formed from a strip of material by bulging outwardly the central portion between the ends 72 and 7 thereof to form a bottom wall 74 and an inclined front wall 75. The holder 17 is prefer ably secured to the front face 54 of the drawer by brazing or welding the ends 72 and 7 3 thereto. The bottom wall 7d abuts the bottom front edge of the drawer front 54 and is secured thereto usually by brazing. The inclined front wall 75 extends upwardly from the front edge of the bottom wall 74- toward the upper edge of the drawer front 5%, leaving an opening or slit 76 formed between the same with portions 77 and 7 8 on each side of the opening abutting and secured to the upper edge of the drawer front 54. An opening 79 is provided in the face of the holder front wall 7 5 through which the interior of same may be observed.

A card or slip 8O bearing the desired insignia is located between the front wall 75 of the holder 17 and the drawer front wall 54. This slip is formed by folding a sheet of flexible material rearwardly as at 81. The folded slip is tnen inserted through the opening or slit 76 and pressed downwardly into the holder 17 where the rearwardly folded portion 81, due to the tendency of the material at the bend to straighten out, presses against the wall 54 of the drawer and forces the insignia bearing portion of the i against the holder wall 75. so that the signia thereon will show through the open ing 79. \Vhen the slip 80 is so located the same may be observed from above the drawer by looking in a direction parallel to the vertical front all 5% of the drawer, which is esp cially convenient when the drawer is used in an under-hanging cabinet. I

When the above described device is used as an underhanging cabinet it is usually placed beneath the table or desk top to the the right of the user, in which position the arrangement of the card retaining strip crosswise, as shown in Figs. 3 and 12, facilitates reference to the cards 61 inasmuch as a user simply glances downwardly upon the withdrawn drawer without the necessity of substantially twisting his body. This is likewise true when observing the insignia upon the index slips held in the slip holders 17, due to the n vel construction of the same.

From the above description, it is to be noted that the results contemplated and the objects desired have been obtained and a do vice has been provided which is economical to manufacture and is a decided improvement in devices of this character. lVhile the drawings and description have been confined to a device in which a particular type of index card is used, I do not limit myself to this type of card nor to its specific retaining strip, other types of index Ct rds and securing means therefor may be secured Within the drawer of this device with equally advantageous results. It to be understood. therefore, that the invention is not limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of many modifications and variations which lie within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an index or file, drawer supporting members having a drawer slidingly mounted thereon. means at the forward end of each of said supporting members co-operatmg to guide the drawer in its in and out movement.

said means eo-o 'ierating with a portion of said drawer to prevent accidental removal of said drawer from said supports, certain of said means being removable to allow the complete rcn'ioval of said drawer.

2. In an index or tile, a plurality of separable sections, each section having a piurality of shallow drz-iwer connpartments comprising a plurality of channel members. said members being arranged in two series, each series having two or more members snperimposed one upon the other, means to secure the superimposed members together and to connect one of said series to the other, means to secure one section to another in superimposed relation, and means to secure the uppermost station to the underside of a table top or the like. including means to brace 'd uppermost section against lateral moveinci'it relative to said table top.

3. In an index or file, a plurality of independent channel members mounted in superposed relation in opposed series, and a plurality of strip members encircling said series of channel members in spaced relation and rigidly securing said channel members in spaced relation and in drawer receiving unitform.

4. In an index or file, a plurality of independent channel members mounted in superposed relation in opposed series, a plurality of strip members encircling said series of channel members and holding the opposed series spaced from each other and rigidly securing said channel members in drawer receiving unit form, and means secured to said channel members by said strip members for limiting the sliding movement of drawers in said channel members.

5. In an index or file, a plurality of independent drawer receiving units each comprising opposed series of superposed drawer guiding members, means for securing opposed series of said guiding members in laterally spaced drawer receiving relation, and a pair of coupling members each detachably connected at a single point to each side of each unit with the inner ends of the members of each pair in abutting relation and with the outer ends thereof extending byond the upper and lower surfaces of said unit and secured to the next adjacent units in a similar manner, the abutting ends of said members preventing pivotal movement of said members about their points of attachment to said units.

6. In an index or file, a plurality of independent drawer receiving units each com prising opposed series of superposed drawer guiding members, means for securing opposed series of said guiding means in laterally spaced drawer receiving relation, a pair of coupling members arranged on opposite sides of said unit and each detachably connected thereto at a single point and with the outer ends thereof extending beyond the upper and lower surfaces of said unit and attached to the next adjacent units, and a shoulder on said unit adapted to be engaged by said coupling members to prevent pivotal movement of said members about their points of attachment with said units.

7. In an index or file, a plurality of independent drawer receiving units each comprising opposed series of superposed drawer guiding members, means for securing opposed series of said guiding means in laterally spaced drawer receiving relation, a pair of coupling members arranged on opposite sides of said unit and each detachably connected thereto at a single point and with the outer ends thereof extending beyond the upper and lower surfaces of said unit and attached to the next adjacent units, and. shoulders on said drawer guiding and coupling members ad alpted to abut one another to pre vent pivotal movement of said members about their points of attachment with said units.

8. In an index or file, a plurality of independent drawer receiving units each comprising opposed series of superposed drawer guiding members, a strap surrounding the opposed series of superposed drawer guiding members of each series adjacent to the forward and rear ends thereof and permanently secured thereto to maintain said opposed series of guiding members in laterally spaced drawer receiving relation, and a pair of coupling members mounted on each of said straps and each detachably connected thereto at a single point of attachment with the outer ends of the members of each pair extending beyond the upper and lower surfaces of said unit and secured to the next adjacent units, each of said coupling members having a flange for engagement with the edge of the adjacent strap to prevent pivotal movement of said members about their points of attach ment with said units.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 12 day of October, 1923.

WILLlAM H. DAY. 

